Bradford City supporters have been told the Odsal Sports Village project would be viable even without the football club’s involvement.

Council officials provided an update on the project at a meeting with members of Bradford City Supporters Trust and the Shipley Bantams group.

The trust said it was told Bradford City was not a partner in the scheme and that cash flows for the new stadium were being calculated on the basis that just Bradford Bulls would play there.

The trust said the Council acknowledged the Bantams’ participation would improve the economic prospects of the new stadium, and added a separate calculation was being made for this eventuality, in discussion with Bradford City FC.

According to the trust, Council officials also said: l Ownership of any new stadium at Odsal would be vested in a not-for-profit body; l The overall timetable had slipped due to the complexity of the project and credit crunch. The scheme was also likely to be split into different parts that may be delivered at different times; l Project managers hope to make a more detailed report next month; l The Council will not make any direct contribution to a new stadium, so the Bulls are seeking other sources of funding including the Rugby League – Yorkshire Forward and Council contributions already announced are for other parts of the scheme; l Construction of a new stadium is nevertheless seen as essential, helping to attract funding from partners; l The Council is in advanced negotiations with the national governing bodies of five different sports; rugby league, tennis, cycling, gymnastics and netball; l The Council has decided to propose the project that fully complies with its aspirations (the £80m scheme). An option whereby City and the Bulls share Valley Parade for first-time games and use OSV for training, an academy and second-team fixtures is not seen as a full alternative; l There will be a swimming pool to replace facilities at the Richard Dunn Centre, but not a 50-metre competition pool; l Ground-sharing between the Bulls and City at Valley Parade is not being pursued but remains ‘on the table’ for later consideration.

Alan Carling, chairman of the supporters trust, said: “The information they were able to provide raised more questions than answers.

“We were surprised to learn the Bulls will have to find their own funding for the new stadium. It is not obvious how this can be made viable economically from the Bulls’ point of view if Bradford City are not involved, although we have been assured the scheme is still viable without City.

“There may be some income from concerts and other events but it will be facing competition on that front from the new Leeds Arena.

“Overall, the Council does not appear to be in a position to answer the big questions about the Odsal project. What are the real benefits of OSV to the sports’ communities in Bradford? Is Bradford City part of the project or not? Who is going to pay for it? Are the future finances sound? What happens to Manningham if City leave Valley Parade?”

Councillor Adrian Naylor, the Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “What I am waiting for now is an executive report to be provided which we will be taking to the Council’s Executive in the next few weeks.”